To depend
Example: The result depends on how carefully you follow instructions
Definition
"To depend" means to rely on or be determined by something or someone else for support, outcome, or existence. For example, when we say "The result depends on how carefully you follow instructions," it indicates that the result is influenced or controlled by the way instructions are followed.
Etymology
The verb "to depend" comes from the Latin word "dependere," which combines "de-" meaning 'down from' and "pendere" meaning 'to hang.' Originally, it conveyed the idea of hanging down from something, which evolved metaphorically into relying or being contingent upon something else. Did you know that this sense of 'hanging on' laid the foundation for the modern meaning of dependence?
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"To depend" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - (A2) - set 3", containing 116 commonly used words.
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